Midlife Dating: Laurie Gerber
If you’re wondering how to start dating again after 50, there’s no better moment than Dating Sunday—January 4, 2026.
If your resolution is about love, get ready for Dating Sunday.
If finding love (or getting back out there) is going to make your New Year’s resolution list, this is your perfect moment. The holiday season will soon be over, and everyone’s in that new beginnings mindset.
Are you ready?
January 4, 2026, is a very special holiday. It is Dating Sunday, the busiest day of the year on dating websites. Every first Sunday of the new year, millions of new users take a deep breath, buckle up, and get online looking for love, fresh starts, or at least a date for Valentine’s Day.
Why Dating Sunday Matters
Dating experts like Logan Ury from Hinge and Rachel DeAlto from Match agree that this day kicks off peak dating season. The stats are wild. Dating sites report up to a 35 percent increase in activity compared to an average Sunday. That means more people, more swipes, and more potential dates in one evening than almost any other time of year.
Tinder users. Plenty of Fish, Coffee Meets Bagel, and nearly every major online dating service report the same surge. From Sunday evening through the first weeks of the new year it is like the Super Bowl of dating minus the wings and plus the DMs.
If you want a fresh start for your love life, this is the best time of year to do it.
The Psychology Behind the Surge
Why this particular day?
Because the first Sunday of January lands right after the holiday season, a time that brings up every flavor of loneliness, nostalgia, and hope. Add in the social pressure of Valentine’s Day creeping closer, and you have a perfect storm of motivation.
People take a look at their lives and decide it is time to make intentional changes. Who does not want more genuine connections? It might be the most important thing.
And when people are more open and self-reflective, they are more likely to show up well on the sites. That means fewer ghosters, fewer trauma bonders, and more people ready for real engagement and the possibility of healthy long-term relationships.
How To Start Dating Again After 50: Prepare for Dating Sunday
If you want to make the most of Dating Sunday, do not just log in; prepare.
Refresh Your Dating Profile
Do not copy and paste last year’s bio. That person’s story ended. This is your next chapter. Update your online dating profile to reflect who you are now, your interests, your growth, your sense of humor. Add new photos that show you actually living life.
Pro tip: ask a friend to take new pics and tell you what your true personality looks like on camera.
Add Voice Notes or Video Prompts
Apps like Hinge and Bumble now let you record voice notes or video answers to prompts. Use that feature. Your voice carries warmth and authenticity that words cannot. Hearing your laugh or confidence can make you stand out instantly.
Revisit Your 3H Chart
You knew I would say it. Make sure you are clear on what you want in your head, heart, and hoo-ha. No more winging it. Your dating goals must take your whole self and all your needs into account.
Set Your Sunday Plan
The busiest day of the year for dating apps is your golden window. Pour a glass of wine or tea, put on your favorite playlist, and settle in for a few hours to make the most of it. Make or respond to as many connections as possible with intentional messages.
Make sure to keep some space open in January to keep the conversations going and to book some live dates.
How to Start Dating Again After 50
If you have spent a long time out of the dating pool, this is your perfect time to reenter. The rest of the year tends to flow from how you start it and how you show up on Dating Sunday says a lot about your intentions for your love life in 2026. Seize the day.
Coaching Homework
Choose your top two dating sites.
Write your dating profile with your true personality front and center.
Plan one first date in January, coffee or a walk.
Check out my info in bio and all the other resources I have for you.
Dating is a practice. You learn, you refine, you grow. And Dating Sunday is a great excuse to start.
Happy New Year, loves!
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About the Author:
Laurie Gerber has been a dating coach for the last 20 years. She is the creator of Master the Art of Love, an online digital course for women over 50. ” She’s the host of the podcast “Love at Any Age,” and has been featured widely in print, on TV, radio, podcasts, and served as the resident love expert at Match, Zoosk, Jdate, etc. Her dating advice and free training can be found at lauriegerber.com.
